U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Matthew A. Sprankle is congratulated by a Spanish Air Force Officer at Morón Air Base, Spain, Jan. 26, 2016, after receiving the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for saving a Senegalese man from drowning on last August. The award is the highest non-combative decoration for heroism awarded by the U.S. Department of the Navy. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Matthew A. Sprankle is congratulated by a Spanish Air Force Officer at Morón Air Base, Spain, Jan. 26, 2016, after receiving the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for saving a Senegalese man from drowning on last August. The award is the highest non-combative decoration for heroism awarded by the U.S. Department of the Navy. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released)
Marines with the Combined Arms Company, Black Sea Rotational Force and Romanian Forces conduct patrols during Platinum Lion 16-2 at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, Jan. 8, 2016. Exercise Platinum Lion provides combined training with NATO Allies and partners, demonstrating our commitment to promoting a peaceful and stable Europe through theatre security cooperation engagements. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Justin T. Updegraff/ Released) - Marines with the Combined Arms Company, Black Sea Rotational Force and Romanian Forces conduct patrols during Platinum Lion 16-2 at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, Jan. 8, 2016. Exercise Platinum Lion provides combined training with NATO Allies and partners, demonstrating our commitment to promoting a peaceful and stable Europe through theatre security cooperation engagements. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Justin T. Updegraff/ Released)
Sgt. Raheem Boyd, a heavy equipment operator with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa received an American Hero Award aboard Morón Air Base, Spain, Dec. 23, 2015. Boyd, a Birmingham, Alabama native, was recognized for his courageous actions saving another Marine’s life, May, 2015 aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Vitaliy Rusavskiy/Released) - Sgt. Raheem Boyd, a heavy equipment operator with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa received an American Hero Award aboard Morón Air Base, Spain, Dec. 23, 2015. Boyd, a Birmingham, Alabama native, was recognized for his courageous actions saving another Marine’s life, May, 2015 aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Vitaliy Rusavskiy/Released)
Nearly 100 Marines and sailors with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa established an evacuation control center for an exercise in Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy. The exercise prepared the crisis response unit for a military assisted departure mission. The passenger terminal used hosted a real ECC 19 months ago when SPMAGTF-CR-AF, assisted in the evacuation of U.S. personnel from the U.S. embassy in Tripoli, Libya. U.S. citizens and embassy personnel traveled by ground convoy to neighboring Tunisia, before being flown to NAS Sigonella, where they were processed through the ECC before moving on to other locations. - Nearly 100 Marines and sailors with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa established an evacuation control center for an exercise in Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy. The exercise prepared the crisis response unit for a military assisted departure mission. The passenger terminal used hosted a real ECC 19 months ago when SPMAGTF-CR-AF, assisted in the evacuation of U.S. personnel from the U.S. embassy in Tripoli, Libya. U.S. citizens and embassy personnel traveled by ground convoy to neighboring Tunisia, before being flown to NAS Sigonella, where they were processed through the ECC before moving on to other locations.
U.S. Marine M1A1 Abrams tanks and Bulgarian T-72 tanks conduct maneuver training during Platinum Lion 16-2 at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, Jan. 8, 2016. Exercise Platinum Lion provides combined training with NATO Allies and partners, demonstrating our commitment to promoting a peaceful and stable Europe through theatre security cooperation engagements. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Justin T. Updegraff/ Released) - U.S. Marine M1A1 Abrams tanks and Bulgarian T-72 tanks conduct maneuver training during Platinum Lion 16-2 at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, Jan. 8, 2016. Exercise Platinum Lion provides combined training with NATO Allies and partners, demonstrating our commitment to promoting a peaceful and stable Europe through theatre security cooperation engagements. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Justin T. Updegraff/ Released)
Three Eurofighter Typhoons with the Spanish Air Force escort a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J Hercules during an aerial refueling mission, Aug. 13, in Spain. Bilateral exercises such as this one are how Spain and the U.S. foster one of the closest defense partnerships around the world. - Three Eurofighter Typhoons with the Spanish Air Force escort a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J Hercules during an aerial refueling mission, Aug. 13, in Spain. Bilateral exercises such as this one are how Spain and the U.S. foster one of the closest defense partnerships around the world.
U.S. service members recently completed the second module of Tactical Intelligence Support to Maritime Operations course for the Ghanaian Navy and Maritime Police Force, Dec. 7-18, at Ghana’s Eastern Naval Command Headquarters here. This course has already paid dividends, according to Foster Kotoku, the Ghanaian Maritime Police Force assistant superintendent. During the two-week course, students from the Ghanaian Maritime Police Force seized an undisclosed amount of illicit drugs from a smuggler on a ferry. With follow-on questioning, the police forces were led to a higher connection in the drug trade. - U.S. service members recently completed the second module of Tactical Intelligence Support to Maritime Operations course for the Ghanaian Navy and Maritime Police Force, Dec. 7-18, at Ghana’s Eastern Naval Command Headquarters here. This course has already paid dividends, according to Foster Kotoku, the Ghanaian Maritime Police Force assistant superintendent. During the two-week course, students from the Ghanaian Maritime Police Force seized an undisclosed amount of illicit drugs from a smuggler on a ferry. With follow-on questioning, the police forces were led to a higher connection in the drug trade.
U.S. Marine noncommissioned officers of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa visited the historic Pointe du Hoc in Normandy, France, Dec. 11-13, a pivotal site featuring the remnants of the amphibious Allied landings during World War II, also known as D-Day. The Marine NCOs are the backbone of service component operations for U.S. European Command that supports numerous NATO-led operations and exercises in Europe that enables the Alliance to continue their proven, enduring partnerships. - U.S. Marine noncommissioned officers of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa visited the historic Pointe du Hoc in Normandy, France, Dec. 11-13, a pivotal site featuring the remnants of the amphibious Allied landings during World War II, also known as D-Day. The Marine NCOs are the backbone of service component operations for U.S. European Command that supports numerous NATO-led operations and exercises in Europe that enables the Alliance to continue their proven, enduring partnerships.
U.S. Marines with Combined Arms Company, Black Sea Rotational Force, conduct field training with Romanian and Moldovan armed forces during Platinum Lynx 16-2 at Smardan Training Area, Romania, Dec. 9, 2015. Exercise Platinum Lynx 16-2 is a NATO-led multinational exercise designed to strengthen combat readiness, increase improve collective capabilities, and maintain proven relationships with allied and partner nations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Melanye E. Martinez/Released) - U.S. Marines with Combined Arms Company, Black Sea Rotational Force, conduct field training with Romanian and Moldovan armed forces during Platinum Lynx 16-2 at Smardan Training Area, Romania, Dec. 9, 2015. Exercise Platinum Lynx 16-2 is a NATO-led multinational exercise designed to strengthen combat readiness, increase improve collective capabilities, and maintain proven relationships with allied and partner nations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Melanye E. Martinez/Released)
An MV-22B Osprey with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa lands aboard Los Llanos Air Base, Spain, Dec. 7, 2015. The Marines participated in a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel training exercise, recovering a simulated downed French pilot and flying him to safety. - An MV-22B Osprey with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa lands aboard Los Llanos Air Base, Spain, Dec. 7, 2015. The Marines participated in a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel training exercise, recovering a simulated downed French pilot and flying him to safety.